Feed an Animal Today!

SpellowHouse

SpellowHouse

SpellowHouse

Soldato
Joined
31 Jan 2022
Posts
3,330
Location
UK
Well, if you are in the UK then the temperature is below zero and the small animals are in real trouble out there. Please consider putting out some scraps, bread, a handful of cat biscuits, old pet food, anything that will help them at this very difficult time of year.
I have stray cat hiding under my settee at the moment. It thinks no one knows it's there! It's really important to help out in this weather. A bowl of food, a place that's warm, a blanket, it means the difference between life and death for them right now.
 
We put stuff out every evening, the ring camera doubles as a fox watcher, we normally have 4/5 in the early mornings.

Our neighbours feed a stray cat who sleeps under the trees near our houses, I worry most years about her but she is tough as nails.
 
goldy6660 said:
Wouldn't putting food out attract rats and other rodents?
Click to expand...

Rats need love too.

We put food out for the foxes last night. And will be feeding the ducks on the [now frozen] dock.

But seriously, if this thread turns into "no, it will encourage pests and disease, ew" that will be a new low for OCUK.
 
Last edited:
goldy6660 said:
Wouldn't putting food out attract rats and other rodents?
Click to expand...

I think it is more of a problem in the country, where there is a lower concentration of cats. Any rats around here have to keep a low profile thanks to all the cats. There is little chance they will get out of control. The worst I get here is seagulls, but they are not really a problem. I only get two or three that will actually land in the garden. Not like The Birds or anything.
 
Last edited:
Diddums said:
We're having a roast this afternoon, I'll definitely be putting the leftovers out for the animals and encourage anyone else to do the same.
Click to expand...

You have leftovers? I am disappoint.

All of the plants in our gardens are native British species only. At the minute we've got berries all over the Honeysuckles and Guelder Roses which the smaller birds love. We left plenty of apples on the trees which the birds are absolutely destroying and there's tell-tale nibbles on the fallen ones too. The dogwoods have had all of their berries eaten already, early in autumn tbh.
Everything else is a spring or summer feeder.

We also leave fatballs, seeds and mealworms out. The variety of wildlife we get is crazy, everything from mice and voles up to owls and other birds of prey. We even had an Osprey overhead this year.
 
Lysander said:
Rats need love too.

We put food out for the foxes last night. And will be feeding the ducks on the [now frozen] dock.

But seriously, if this thread turns into "no, it will encourage pests and disease, ew" that will be a new low for OCUK.
Click to expand...

If you want to see a new low, post a thread on here asking people to do something nice for immigrants...
 
to feed what? the rats

go out at around 6am and look how many rats you will spot.. any patch of council grass seems to have them living there
 
Last edited:
Dis86 said:
All of the plants in our gardens are native British species only. At the minute we've got berries all over the Honeysuckles and Guelder Roses which the smaller birds love. We left plenty of apples on the trees which the birds are absolutely destroying and there's tell-tale nibbles on the fallen ones too. The dogwoods have had all of their berries eaten already, early in autumn tbh.
Everything else is a spring or summer feeder.

We also leave fatballs, seeds and mealworms out. The variety of wildlife we get is crazy, everything from mice and voles up to owls and other birds of prey. We even had an Osprey overhead this year.
Click to expand...

I get hedgehogs and stray cats but no birds. Well, discounting Seagulls and Red Kites. It is extremely rare to see a bird. It's probably down to the number of cats and Red Kites. Both frequently patrol the area.
 
SpellowHouse said:
I get hedgehogs and stray cats but no birds. Well, discounting Seagulls and Red Kites. It is extremely rare to see a bird. It's probably down to the number of cats and Red Kites. Both frequently patrol the area.
Click to expand...

We've lost the larger mammals since we got 2 new neighbours with cats and dogs. Rabbits, hares, hedgehogs and foxes now stay well clear :(

The deer that wandered down the road the other day didn't seem to give a monkeys though!
 
Last edited:
Shouldn't we let nature take it's course on wild animals? I mean aren't temperatures rising generally so in the past I'm sure it was colder. I love animals but not a fan of interferring with nature.

This is the first time i've heard about leaving food out for foxes and rats.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom